Lodi Farmers Speak Out Against Businesses Masquerading As Wineries

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LODI (CBS13) — The wine industry boom in Lodi isn’t sitting well with some farmers, who are calling this newfound prosperity a big problem.

Lodi is known as the Little Sonoma. They’ve been growing grapes here since the 1900s, but because of the recent winery boom, the world has taken notice—and so have some agitated farmers.

Nearly 80 wineries and hundreds of Lodi labeled wines.

“I think its a good thing. It brings more money to Lodi,” said Lodi resident Rachel.

That success has produced spinoff businesses at wineries such as weddings and even concerts.

But some farmers believe it’s making Lodi’s agricultural areas more crowded and noisy.

The San Joaquin County Farm Bureau agrees, saying, many of those new businesses don’t produce a drop of wine, but are using the winery name to sell events, organizing loud concerts in normally quiet rural communities, and disrupting farm operations by parking in farm fields.

There’s even a concern about crime.

“They don’t want it to turn into Stockton,” said Anthony Kahl, “That’s a big fear really a rather valid fear especially given how close Stockton is and what Stockton’s problems are.”

The board of supervisors is now asking staff to explore modifying the winery ordinance to address those issues.